Portable information apparatus having communications tools, a control system for controlling such portable information apparatus, and an apparatus having such control system

• US 7,039,426 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Naiki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, ANGELICA
• Application Number:
  US09/900,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A portable information apparatus 20 having communications tools is provided with a switch 22a for instructing enablement/disenablement of transmission functions of the wireless transmission/reception section 21 of the portable information apparatus 20. The portable information apparatus 20, upon receipt of a transmission prohibition signal from an prohibition signal transmitter 31 installed in a public facility 30, determines whether the transmission functions must be disenabled and automatically controls enablement/disenablement of the transmission functions. The portable information apparatus is thus automatically turned off even when the carrier of the apparatus has forgotten to turn off the transmission functions, thereby allowing the carrier to perform necessary operations not involving transmission of electromagnetic waves without causing a nuisance to others.

Claims

1. A portable information apparatus having communications tools, said portable information apparatus including:

a wireless transmission/reception section for transmitting to and receiving from an external wireless transmitter/receiver electromagnetic signals;

an operation section for performing various operations;

a display section for displaying status of the operations made by said operation section, and status and the results of transmission/reception operations made by said wireless transmission/reception section; and

a control section connected with said wireless transmission/reception section, operation section, and display section, for controlling overall actions of said portable information apparatus,

said portable information apparatus further comprising reception means, within or outside said wireless transmission/reception section, for receiving a communication prohibition signal and/or a communication permission signal transmitted by the electromagnetic waves from an external facility, and for enabling/disenabling said transmission functions of said wireless transmission/reception section upon receipt of said communication prohibition signal and/or said communication permission signal,

wherein said communication prohibition signal and/or said communication permission signal are/is weaker than the electromagnetic waves transmitted from said wireless transmission/reception section of said portable information apparatus.

2. The portable information apparatus having communications tools according to claim 1, wherein said wireless transmission/reception section is adapted to serve as a dedicated wireless receiver when said transmission functions of said wireless transmission/reception section are disenabled.

3. The portable information apparatus having communications tools according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data section for storing data regarding the portable information apparatus;

a discrimination section, adapted to receive the results of the reception from the reception means and receive data from the data section, for setting the transmission function of the wireless transmission/reception section enabled or disenabled, based on the results received from the reception means and the data received from the data section.

4. A control system for controlling portable information apparatuses having communications tools, said control system having a transmitter for transmitting a communication prohibition signal and/or a communication permission signal which are the electromagnetic waves to the portable information apparatuses, said transmitter installed at a location where transmissions of electromagnetic waves from said portable information apparatuses are probibited,

Wherein said communication prohibition signal and/or communication permission signal are/is weaker than the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the wireless transmission/reception section of the portable information apparatus.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein said transmitter is operated under predetermined conditions.

6. A control system comprising a multiplicity of transmitters defined in claim 4.

7. An apparatus equipped with a controller for controlling portable information apparatuses having communications tools, said apparatus comprising a transmitter for transmitting a communication prohibition signal and/or a communication permission signal which are the electromagnetic waves to said portable information apparatuses, wherein said transmitter is installed on an apparatus that can be influenced by electromagnetic waves transmitted from said portable information apparatuses,

Wherein said communication prohibition signal and/or said communication permission signal are/is weak enough not to influence said electromagnetically susceptible apparatus.